SRINAGAR: The resistance leadership on Tuesday paid tributes to militants who were killed in a gunfight with government forces on Monday and held New Delhi responsible for the uncertainty in Jammu Kashmir. It also blamed authorities for shielding the culprits involved in braid chopping acts across valley.
Three militants, Zahid Ahmad, Irfan Ahmad and Asif Ahmad were killed in a gunfight with government forces at Gattipora Kellar in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday.
In a statement, Chairman Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani while paying tributes to slain militants said due to disputed status and conflicting nature of Kashmir, our fourth generation is pushed to the wall and forced to face extreme situations.
“It is the world’s highly militarised zone. Our youth are not safe and young generation while sensing humiliating and barbaric approach towards the women folk are forced to take extreme steps,” Geelani said. “Authorities in New Delhi should understand and differentiate between right to self-determination movement and terrorism.”
He said the (Kashmir) issue is recognised and accepted by international community and “there is no doubt that the movement we pursue is indigenous and local in nature”.
“Bullying and military might can (neither) suppress our sentiments (nor) break our resolve,” Geelani said and urged the international community to focus on Kashmir issue and take steps for its amicable and lasting resolution.
The Hurriyat chairman said peace and tranquillity in the subcontinent will remain a distant dream and unless the issue is resolved as per aspirations of people of J&K, the uncertainty will continue to haunt the whole subcontinent.
Expressing deep concern over the unabated incidents of braid chopping, Geelani said information received suggests that these shameful activities are being carried with “active support of forces and its agencies”.
Geelani also expressed serious concern over the deteriorating health of Hurriyat leaders including Shabir Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Peer Saif-u-ullah, Ayaz Akbar, Meraj u Din Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Nayem Ahmed Khan and Farooq Ahmad Dar.
“If anything untoward happens to them, the jail authorities shall have to face serious consequences,” Geelani warned.
In a statement, Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while expressing serious concern over the rising incidents of braid chopping said government and its police are adopting a lackadaisical approach in cracking it. “It seems some agency is behind the braid chopping incidents which enjoys the patronage of those in power; otherwise it was not impossible to nab the culprits behind this brazen crime,” he said.
Mirwaiz also urged people to make the TRC Chalo call given by the joint resistance leadership on October 14 a success by showing solidarity with hundreds of resistance leaders, youth and elderly lodged in jails. “People’s participation in the rally will also be a message to New Delhi that Kashmiris continue to remain steadfast towards their goal,” he said.
In a statement, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik condemned the continuous incidents of braid chopping, saying these attacks are intended to create fear psychosis among Kashmiris and make their lives more vulnerable. “But perpetuators of these cowardly acts should remember that Kashmiris can never be bogged down by these kinds of condemnable acts,” he said.
He termed the authorities’ failures to identify the culprits involved in braid chopping acts as surprising. “Police and other forces are very swift while dealing with peaceful protests and protesters and show haste while identifying (them) but seem clueless about the attacks on the chastity of Kashmiri women,” he said.
JKLF chairman said “conspiratorial attitude” of police and its failure in indentifying and arresting the culprits of braid chopping are raising many questions.
“This a plot of enemy to defeat us psychologically and we all with our unity and community based vigil will have to defeat these ugly designs,” Malik said.
Meanwhile, JKLF paid rich tributes to slain militants. A party delegation comprising of district president Javed Ahmad Butt and Tariq Ahmad visited the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with them.
The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), in a statement, paid glowing tributes to militants, saying, “We are grieved over the loss of lives of our mujahedeen but at the same time are proud that our youth are rejecting Indian slavery and their hearts are filled with the spirit of freedom.”
A DFP spokesperson said “both India’s stubborn attitude and criminal silence of the international community is responsible for the unabated killings and the uncertain situation in Jammu Kashmir”. Commenting on the continuous war of words between India and Pakistan, the spokesperson said the whole subcontinent would fall into the pit of destruction if the main dispute between two countries – Kashmir – is not resolved.
The party while demanding stringent action against the braid choppers said, “Police doesn’t leave any stone unturned in finding and arresting the innocent stone pelting youth but their lackadaisical approach while dealing with braid chopping incidents has emboldened the culprits to play with the honour and dignity of our women-folk.”
The spokesperson accused police of sheltering the suspected braid choppers and said “past several incidents proved that such incidents are sponsored”.
Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM) paid glowing tributes to slain militants. In a statement, DeM general secretary, Nahida Nasreen, termed the chief operational commander of Jaish-e-Muhammad, Khalid, as a “great mujahid and a brave son of (the) soil”.
Nasreen added, “It is a difficult time for the people of Kashmir as India has declared a war by asserting that it is acting upon its sinister ‘operation all out’. People should remain patient and steadfast and shouldn’t fall prey to any Indian propaganda.”
“People should never go to the Indian politicians, its forces or the JK police for the redressal of their problems because these all are arms and legs of the oppressor. We should always support our mujahideen and the pro-resistance people and soon Insha Allah, Allah (SWT) will grant us victory over these evil forces,” the DeM general secretary said.

Subscribe by Email

Search in Archive

Select a MonthSelect a CategorySearch with Google

Stay with us

About

Launched in May 2012, Kashmir Reader is one of the leading English language newspapers of Jammu and Kashmir. It’s published daily from Srinagar by Helpline Group, which earned a name and fame in serious journalism